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On Wednesday, October 1, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of Defenders of Ukraine and Cossacks Day, which coincides with the Christian Feast of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.
The Day of Defenders of Ukraine is a national holiday established on October 14, 2014, by presidential decree as Defender of Ukraine Day. On July 14, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada renamed it the Day of Defenders of Ukraine (to include both men and women). It was traditionally observed on October 14, but in 2023 the date was moved to October 1 due to the church calendar reform.
Since September 1, 2023, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church have switched to the Revised Julian calendar, so most Christians now celebrate religious holidays 13 days earlier. In particular, the Feast of the Intercession is now observed on October 1, and along with it the date of the Day of Defenders was also moved.
The need for such a national holiday became especially urgent after Russia’s occupation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The courage and bravery of Ukrainian soldiers, and the hundreds of lives given for the Homeland, require worthy commemoration.
On the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, a nationwide moment of silence will be held in memory of the fallen, along with a joint prayer for Ukraine and its fallen heroes.
The Intercession of the Holy Mother of God is one of the main feasts in Christianity. According to legend, in ancient Constantinople the city was besieged by enemies. During an all-night vigil in the Blachernae Church, the Virgin Mary appeared surrounded by angels, prophets, and apostles, and covered the faithful with her veil. This vision foretold victory — the enemy retreated, and the city was saved. Since then, the Intercession has been associated with protection from visible and invisible foes.
From ancient times, the Mother of God was considered the patroness of the Ukrainian Cossacks. On the Feast of the Intercession, they held a Great Council, elected a hetman, and made decisions about Cossack life. The Zaporizhian Cossacks had a church dedicated to the Intercession and kept its icon. Before campaigns they held a prayer service, and upon return gave thanks.
In the 20th century, the traditions of the Cossacks were continued by soldiers of the Ukrainian People’s Republic Army and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. It is no coincidence that the UPA was founded on the Feast of the Intercession.
The modern Ukrainian army preserves the combat traditions of its predecessors. Military units now carry names of legendary Ukrainian commanders and formations of the past. Continuity of generations is visible in uniform elements — the “mazepynka” cap, the trident shoulder patch, and the slogan “Glory to Ukraine! — Glory to the Heroes!” has become the official army greeting.
Many churches in Ukraine have been built in honor of the Intercession. One of the oldest is the Intercession Church in the village of Sutkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region, built in 1467 as a fortress. Today this unique building serves both as a functioning church and as a museum.
“It is thanks to the defenders of Ukraine that our fellow citizens can live their ordinary lives: drink their morning coffee, take their children to school, work and create, feeling their hearts beat together with Ukraine. A country that fights,” emphasized Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
According to him, “for many years we were forced into a victim complex, told about tears, defeats, and failures. But today’s defenders of Ukraine proved the opposite. You stopped Russian aggression, shattered the myth of the ‘invincible army’ of Russia, and awakened the dormant warrior spirit of Ukraine. This spirit is in your hearts! The spirit of victorious Ukrainian warriors!”
Every defender who gave their life for Ukraine’s independence and the freedom of its people is a solid stone in the foundation of eternal statehood, the general noted.
“We remember each one. Eternal memory and eternal glory to all the fallen soldiers,” the Commander-in-Chief stressed.
Syrskyi emphasized that defenders of Ukraine are heirs of past warriors and bearers of today’s glory.
“You are paving the way for the defenders of future generations, becoming role models for descendants. You build the state every day, keep our shared faith in a strong, free, European Ukraine, in the future of our children and grandchildren on their native land,” he said, thanking every defender of Ukraine for their military service, dedication, and sacrifice: “those forging our victory at the front, those working for the front in the rear, those awaiting freedom in enemy captivity.”
As Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in his greeting, thanks to the courage and bravery of defenders, the past is preserved, the present exists, and the future is possible.
“You are role models for our children and true heroes. I wish you strength and resilience on the path toward lasting and just peace. Thank you for your courage. For your daily work holding back the enemy. For your feats. Thank you for your protection,” the Defense Minister emphasized.
He stressed: “We remember those in captivity and fight for their return. We thank the families of servicemen and servicewomen, who give support and share their strength every day. We bow our heads to those who gave their lives for what matters most.”
